Search form

You are here

Asia News

President Barack Obama will become the first sitting U.S. President to visit India twice when he arrives under heavy security next week. He will also become the first U.S. President to be honored as Chief Guest during the annual Republic Day celebration. But the trip will be more than ceremonial, as President Obama and his counterpart Prime Minister Modi are likely to hold comprehensive talks on the entire gamut of bilateral issues in search of ways to enhance cooperation. In this episode of NOW, Michael Kugelman tells us what to expect from this important meeting.

"If the outside world doesn’t come back to vigorously help stem the tide, Yemen may formally crumble into a failed state, with militias seizing more power and full scale war erupting among rival powers on multiple fronts," writes Robin Wright.

The Asia Program's Senior Program Associate Shihoko Goto will be one of the speakers at Japan in 2015: A Look at the Year Ahead, being held at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on January 22.

"In the coming year, all eyes will be on Afghanistan’s fragile national unity government as it confronts a ferocious insurgency and a floundering economy — and with significantly less international support than it enjoyed in previous years," writes Michael Kugelman.

As we move into the next year, the Asia Program would like to thank all of our speakers, writers, scholars, and supporters who have helped us make 2014 so successful. We are especially grateful to the writers have worked with us this year on our publications, covering a range of topics from energy crises in both Pakistan and India, the negotiation of the Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership, and the changing relationships and "rebalancing" in Northeast Asia.

The Obama Administration has spoken of a “pivot” or “rebalance” toward Asia as a foreign policy priority. But the U.S. is not alone in turning its sites toward the Pacific. The European Union continues to focus more and more on the Asian continent as well. Does the pivot present an opportunity for the EU and U.S. to draw upon shared values and a history of cooperation as they engage China and other Asian nations? Or will we see increased competition as both seek to benefit from the economic opportunities the region presents?

The deal, a surprise to many, has been called, “historic.” Last month, U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping announced both countries will curb their greenhouse gas emissions over the next two decades. Is this the game changer that those calling for action have been waiting for? Will this create momentum for increased international cooperation? And what does the deal address beyond carbon emissions? China Environment Forum Director, Jennifer Turner provides analysis.